coastal carolina

Still Not Over It: The Day My Self Confidence Actually Died

Posted on by Emma Unedited

As mentioned in other blogs, I am currently pursuing a major in Musical Theater. In one of my acting classes recently, we have been doing a lot of character development work–exploring the physical and mental effects of allowing a character to truly become a part of you. One exercise we did was performing a common nursery rhyme as if we were an animal.

I was given an elephant, so my movements were large and my voice was low. My friend Cassidy was given a snail, so she curled up on the ground and spoke slowly. We discussed the essence of each animal and what distinguished characteristics allowed for development in their character.

At the end of that exercise, my teacher said that each person possesses certain qualities that make them like some type of animal. She then asked all of us to talk amongst ourselves and figure out which animal we were.

Ironically my friend Kat was labeled a cat. Like her name, she possesses a subtle mysterious and feline nature: so this made sense to me. My friend Bailey was labeled as a panther because of her  confidence and attention catching presence.

“What did my classmates label me?” You may be wondering. Well, after virtually no discussion whatsoever, my classmates decided that I was a monkey.

And not just any monkey. I guess one of my classmates must have noticed the look of genuine hopelessness on my face and tried to alleviate the situation by clarifying….

“Not just any monkey!” she said.

“One of those red monkeys you see at the zoo! (I guess she wanted me to ignore the fact that she was SAYING I LOOKED LIKE A MONKEY by bringing me back to some fond memories I had at the zoo as a child…)

So at this point I actually start to tear up because I’m hormonal  but also because IM JUST GIRL ALREADY STRUGGLING WITH WOMANHOOD AND THE MEANING OF LIFE AND THE POTENTIAL OF DYING ALONE AND NOW MY CLASSMATES TELL ME THAT I LOOK LIKE A RED MONKEY.

So naturally I google this “red monkey” and this is the first photo that pops up.


awwwwwwwwwwwdkdjkwdjjswhsjhdhhAHHHHHHHHHHHWWHHATT

Im not sure if my classmates noticed my misty eyes but I suspect that they did due to the fact that they changed their answer to a golden-doodle (which in my opinion is more accurate considering they have the smarts of a poodle and the fun-loving nature of a golden retriever).

I’m smart and fun, right?

Ugh. So that is my tragic tail.

I mean tale.

(Ew sorry I had to.)

So just remember, ladies. When you get a wicked zit or put on a few pounds, at least no one told you that you look like a monkey.

Oh sorry excuse me…a red monkey.

No one told you that you looked like a red monkey…the ugliest of all monkeys.

No one used your face as evidence for the claim that we did, in fact, descend from primates.

I hope you feel better about yourselves now.

Xoxo,

Emma

Red Cheeks and Rubber Boots: A New Girl’s Quest to Make it Rain 

Posted on by Emma Unedited

I currently go to school at Coastal Carolina in Conway, SC (whoop whoop go Chants) which is essentially 20 minutes away from Myrtle Beach. On the weekends, students pack up their surfboards and coolers and hit the sand for a mini vacation before Monday arrives and the week begins again. The weather has been beautiful thus far-a little bit hot at times but mostly sunny with a beachy breeze (forgive me for sounding like a weatherman).

According to my weather app, however, this past Tuesday was supposed to be a different story.

Sixty percent chance of rain starting at 10 o’clock and continuing throughout the day. And since I had class from 9-5 I knew I had to take preventive measures to avoid getting soaked.

Boy oh boy, I was ready for that rain. I had my rain boots (knee height, rubber, totally retro), my rain jacket (monogrammed with school color–perfect for teal tuesday) and my umbrella. A little bit of precipitation was not going to rain on my parade (i hate me too). singing in the rain  <——–(my expectations of Tuesday)

But then 10 o’clock came, no rain. 11 o’clock, no rain. Noon, no rain. I started to feel like one of those people who buys 60 loaves of bread for the day that they are CONFIDENT is going to be the apocalypse and then feels stupid when they end up having to go to work and eat sandwiches for the next 4 months despite what the “stars” told them.

My pride was a little bit tarnished. Not to mention my rain boots were giving me blisters.

And if things couldn’t get any worse, while I was walking to my last class I passed a kid who turned to his friend and said, “dude, why is that girl wearing rain boots?”

Ok.

What do you mean, “why is that girl wearing rain boots?”

That’s a good question, sir.

Hmm…

I don’t know….

MAYBE I WORE RAIN BOOTS BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO RAIN?!!

ONE DOESN’T SIMPLY WEAR RUBBER FROM THE CALF DOWN TO MAKE A FASHION STATEMENT..!!!

Punk…

AND TURNS OUT, I was correct. It ended up raining for about 15 minutes while I was in class (of course). And now Conway, SC is in the middle of a giant flood which most of the nation knows as Hermine.

SO HAH.

Anyways, as a result of this embarrassing encounter I have learned a few things.

Number one: If my acting career doesn’t work out, I am going to be a weather woman because they can be completely incorrect and no one blames them.

Number two: Rain boots don’t match with very much–especially the beating sun.

Number three: Haters gon’ hate.

Hopefully the next time it rains, I will take this experience and allow myself to learn from my mistakes.

Because after all…

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, but about learning how to dance in the rain.”

Even if your rain boots give you blisters.

Xoxo,

Emma

 

Sources:

http://giphy.com/